Cunningham, Westerfield put finishing touches on dominant Senior Night performance by Dayton

» SENIOR NIGHT FEATURES: Josh Cunningham | Jack Westerfield | Photos of seniors

Dayton (20-10, 12-4) increased its chances of earning a top-four seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament and might have clinched it, depending on other results around the conference, with one game to play.

Dayton shot 49 percent and held La Salle to 28 percent shooting. The Flyers broke open the game in the last 12 minutes.

Obi Toppin scored 13 points. Ryan Mikesell added 12. Dayton has won 14 straight games at UD Arena against La Salle.

HALFTIME RECAP

The Dayton Flyers overcame an early 10-3 deficit and held La Salle to three points in the last six minutes of the first half to build a 25-18 halftime lead Wednesday on Senior Night at UD Arena.

After honoring seniors Josh Cunningham and Jack Westerfield in a pregame ceremony, Dayton got off to a slow start, scoring one field goal in the first five minutes.

Dayton trailed 10-3 after seven minutes but started an 8-0 run with the first of three first-half dunks by Obi Toppin, who led all scorers with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting.

The Flyers had a 17-15 lead with six minutes to play and ended the half on an 8-3 run.

Dayton shot 32.1 percent from the field and made 1 of 8 3-pointers. La Salle shot 28.6 percent and made 2 of 12 3-pointers. Isiah Deas led the Explorers with six points.